•This story takes scenes from the Harry Potter series. I want to make it clear that I don't own those scenes. That's owned by
J.K. Rowling. Thank you•

~No One~

Claire and Sirius struggled over the years.

Sirius struggled with staying sane. He struggled with the fact that who was once his wife, was now having to raise his daughter alone. He struggled with the knowledge that he was the reason Peter was made Secret-Keeper. That James and Lily Potter were dead because he couldn't be the Secret-Keeper. He struggled because he was locked in Azkaban while his daughter grew up. Sirius Black struggled because his daughter was forever going to be three in his mind.

Clairesse Black struggled because she couldn't be Clairesse Black. She couldn't be a Black because the world knew her as a Bennet. A Bennet who was once a Black. She struggled because her daughter, Scarlett Black, couldn't be Scarlett Black. Scarlett couldn't be a Black because the world knew her as a Bennet. A Bennet who was once a Black.
Clairesse and Scarlett Black were not Clairesse and Scarlet Black. They were Clairesse and Scarlett Bennet.

Claire and Sirius struggled over the years.

And there were days that only made it worst.

October 31st was the day they lost two of their friends.
November 1st was their anniversary.

But one day was worse than any other day of the year.

August 20th.

August 20, 1982,

"Ma'am, it says right here that you've been looking for a job for-"
"Ten months. Yes," Claire cut the woman off.
"Right. Ten months. You've tried Auror, Herbologist, Hea-"
"Healer, about every Department in the Ministry. Everything really," Claire, again, cut the woman off.
"Ma'am, please stop interrupting me," The woman asked.
"Right. Sorry. I'm just in a rush. My daughter's birthday is today and I promised her I'd be home by now," Claire sighed, chewing on the inside of her cheek nervously.
"Right. Your daughter. And her father is?" The woman questioned, scanning the paper in her hand.

Claire looked down at her hands that rested in her lap.
"Sirius Black."

The woman looked up immediately.

"Sirius Black?! Murderer of thirteen people?!" The woman questioned.
"Erm. Yes?"
"Get out of my office!"

August 20, 1983,

Claire had moved her and Scarlett to a Muggle area after countlessly being turned down in the wizarding world.

Her and Scarlett were walking around the new neighborhood. Scarlett skipping alongside Claire.

A man passed by them. A small corgi by his side.

Scarlett let out a gasp as they passed him.

"Mummy! Can I get a doggy for my birthday?!" Five year old Scarlett questioned.

Claire thought back to when Peter asked her if she and Sirius were getting a dog when Sirius had tried announcing her pregnancy.

Without thinking, she replied with the same thing she did that time.

"We already have a dog."

Scarlett furrowed her eyebrows. Looking around as if the dog would appear right behind them.

"What doggy?"

August 20, 1984,

Sirius Black sat against the stone wall of his cell.

His daughter's sixth birthday was today.

What did she look like?
Did she remember him?
Did they still live in that house in the woods?
Were they doing good?

Sirius just wanted to make sure his daughter and his once wife were okay.

He made a promise to his daughter. Three years ago. He told her that he would always be there to protect her.

And now he was locked up in Azkaban. Miles away from the girl he was supposed to be protecting.

August 20, 1985,

Rain was pouring.

Lighting flashed in the sky.

Thunder roared.

And Claire found herself sitting on the stairs of her porch.

Her knees were up against her chest, her arms keeping them in place.

Rain soaked her clothes. Her hair was stuck to the sides of her face.

Her now seven year old daughter lay asleep inside the small house.

It was crazy to her that she hadn't seen her husband in almost four years.

Claire's hand went to the necklace around her neck. The gold chain held the original dog paw. But her engagement ring and wedding band now hung around the chain.

Claire hadn't taken the necklace off since she put the rings on it the night Albus visited.

So now – every time it rained – Claire would go outside and sit on the porch. Her fingers playing with the rings around her neck.

The rings she was forbidden to ever wear again.

August 20, 1986,

Claire walked down the sidewalk of her neighborhood.

She had grocery bags in her hands. All carrying ingredients to make a cake for her daughter's birthday.

Claire was in a horrible mood.

Her boss had just called to inform her she was missing to much work. So she was fired from her tenth Muggle job.

Muggle jobs were easier. Seeing as they had no idea who her husband was. But it didn't take away from the fact that she was a single parent who needed to care for her now eight year old daughter.

Claire was brought back to reality when she collided with something.

Looking up, she was met by blue eyes.

"Hello, beautiful," The blue eyed man greeted.
"I'm sorry. I should've been paying better attention to where I was going," I apologized, picking a tube of icing up off the ground. Placing it back in one of the bags.
"It's fine. Say. Would you like to go out sometime?" The man questioned.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I'm married," I stated.
"Really? I don't see a ring," The man pointed out.
"Well. I must've left it at home," I sighed.
"Well maybe I'll see you around," The man grinned.
"I'm not thinking so. I'll be on my way then."

August 20, 1987,

Sirius Black couldn't believe his daughter was nine.

In his mind, she was still that adorable little three year old.

The little girl with long, brown pigtails, and big grey eyes.

He just couldn't believe she was nine. She'll be going to Hogwarts in just two years.

Or maybe she won't. Maybe she's a squib. Maybe she hasn't shown any signs of magic.

Sirius wouldn't be there to help her. He wouldn't be there to reassure her. He wouldn't be there when she did show signs of magic.

All Sirius wished for, was to be with his family again.

August 20, 1988,

Scarlett was now ten.

Claire struggled to believe this itself. But the fact that she would be going to Hogwarts next year, was much worse.

Claire worried she wouldn't be happy in her house. Or she'd be bullied. Or she wouldn't make friends.

Claire was scared she would hear about other people's fathers, and ask Claire about her father.

Scarlett didn't know enough people to know that having a father was a common thing.

Scarlett never asked once why she didn't have a father.

Claire knew she would ask one day. She was just scared as to when that day would be.

Claire wanted to tell Scarlett so bad. But Albus wouldn't allow it.

The only person Claire was allowed to tell, was Remus.

Only Remus could know that her and Sirius were still married.

But she hadn't seen Remus since before that Halloween night.

Remus was alone.

Much like how Claire felt.

August 20, 1989,

Scarlett skipped down the steps of her small two story home. Humming to herself as she skipped to the kitchen.

Claire looked up when she saw her now eleven year old daughter.

"And why are you so happy?" Claire laughed.
"Because in just a few weeks, I'm going to Hogwarts!" Scarlett exclaimed.

Scarlett had been doing this since August started.

She never failed to remind her mother that she would be going to the most magical place ever.

Claire loved seeing her daughter's excitement. But that didn't mean she didn't think about the fact that she would be alone.

Scarlett was her only company. She was going to be alone when she left.

But she shrugged that feeling off, and smiled at her daughter.

"And you're going to be the best witch Hogwarts has ever seen."

August 20, 1990,

Scarlett hadn't stopped talking about her first year since she came back for the summer.

Claire was more than relieved when she had told her all about her five best friends; Fred and George Weasley, Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnet.

Claire was suspicious when Scarlett talked about Fred, George, and Lee. They were boys.

And Scarlett had hot parents. Well, at least Claire thought so.

But the point. Scarlett was attractive.

As weird as it sounds – coming from her mother – it was true.

She had wavy, dark brown hair. Her father's striking grey eyes. And although she was short like her mother, she had her father's complexion.

Claire reminded herself that they were twelve.

Claire found it hilarious though, that Scarlett had met the twins before when she was a lot younger.

But she didn't tell Scarlett that.

August 20, 1991,

Scarlett's second year passed, and she had made a new friend; Katie Bell.

The girl was a year younger than her. But Katie had gotten along well with the rest of Scarlett's friends.

Claire found it funny when Scarlett told her all of her friends loved Quidditch, but her.

Fred and George were the new Beaters. Angelina and Alicia were two of the new Chasers. Lee was the commentator for Quidditch. And Katie wanted to be the third Chaser.

Claire knew that Scarlett had a much stronger relationship with the twins than the three girls and Lee. And although Scarlett didn't tell her, she knew it was because the twins were mischievous. As was Scarlett.

The Marauder's Map had been confiscated by Filch in the Marauder's seventh year. Some would say they were careless and got caught. But the real reason, was because they wanted the map to remain in Hogwarts.

Only a true mischief maker would be able to get the map from Filch.

And Claire had a strong feeling those twins had it.

There was also the fact that Claire had received more than twenty letters, informing her her daughter had received detention.

But Claire only laughed.

She knew that Sirius would be so proud of their daughter.

August 20, 1992,

Claire was not surprised when Scarlett came to her after her third year at Hogwarts.

Nor was she surprised when Scarlett told her of the weird feelings she received when she was around a certain Weasley.

She was, however, surprised when she told her of the new trio at Hogwarts.

Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, and Harry Potter.

The thought never even occurred to Claire, that her godson would be eleven that year.

He'd be twelve as of twenty days ago.

Claire had never felt guilt stronger than then.

She was his godmother.

She should have taken him in. Raised him to know of his parents.

She knew she was the only person he would ever be able to talk to about his parents, other than Remus.

Claire told herself that she would find her godson one day.

She didn't know when. But she would.

July 20, 1993,

It was a month before Scarlett's birthday.

Usually Scarlett's birthday was the worst for Claire. But today was worse than anything she had had to deal with over these past twelve years.

Bills were crazy. Work was crazy. It seemed that supplies for Hogwarts were twice as expensive than they usually were.

Scarlett, now fifteen, had tried her hardest to help her mother. But nothing calmed her.

Scarlett didn't know the pain Claire felt. She didn't know that bills weren't even half of what caused her so much pain.

Her pain was because she was having to do these bills alone. That she was having to raise her daughter alone. That she was left alone when her daughter went to Hogwarts.

She shouldn't be alone.

She should be with her husband.

She should be with her husband doing bills. She should be raising her daughter with her husband. She should be with her husband while her daughter goes to Hogwarts.

But Claire's husband was locked up in Azkaban.

And Scarlett knew nothing of her father.

Not for long though.

Scarlett's mother was sitting on the porch of their house. The rain hitting the ground around her.

Claire did this every time it rained. She thought Scarlett had never noticed it. But she did. Every time.

Scarlett didn't know why she did it. But she knew she did do it. And now was her chance to find out why.

Scarlett carefully pushed the door open. Her mother so concentrated on the rain around her, she was easily able to sit beside her unnoticed.

"Mum," Scarlett spoke softly.

Claire jumped. Turning to her daughter quickly.

"Scarlett! Merlin! Don't sneak up on me like that," Claire laughed.
"Mum. Why are you out here?" Scarlett sighed.
"I like the rain. It's peaceful," Claire smiled.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow at her mother.

"That's really it," Claire stated.
"But that's not all of it," Scarlett retorted.

Claire sighed. Surely she could say a little bit of Sirius?

"Your father and I used to come out and dance every time it rained," Claire spoke.

Scarlett looked taken aback.

She had noticed almost immediately that she didn't have a father like the kids at school did.
She also knew it bothered her mother.

But this was the first time she had ever heard her mother even say the word father.

"Mum. Is my father, dead?" Scarlett questioned.

Claire felt like crying at the mere question.

"N-No baby. Your father is alive," Claire stated.

Claire didn't know how alive alive meant.

Sirius could be insane. He could be close to death. He could be perfectly fine.

All Claire knew was that if he died, she legally had to be informed.

"Then where is he?" Scarlett questioned.
"I can't tell you that, Scar," Claire mumbled.
"Then tell me things about him. You never speak of him. Tell me his name. What did he look like? Did he even love me?" Scarlett asked, her voice cracking towards the end.

Claire's eyes were filling with tears.

"Of course he loved you Scarlett! He loved you more than anything in the world! You were his pride and joy!" Claire cried.
"Then tell me about him," Scarlett whimpered.
"I-I can't tell you his name. But I can tell you a few things," Claire agreed.

Scarlett nodded for her to continue.

"You have your father's eyes. Every time I look you in the eye, I think of him. He used to say you had the prettiest eyes. One time, you told us you were a daddy's girl. He held it in for you, but he cried so hard that night. He knew you didn't know what you were saying, but it didn't mean his heart didn't swell," Claire laughed.

Scarlett's eyes glistened with tears.

"You made a promise to him, that you wouldn't ever cry, if it meant he wouldn't cry," Claire said, wiping the tears from Scarlett's cheeks.
"Well I just broke that promise," Scarlett laughed.
"Oh your father's broken that promise so many times," Claire snorted.
"Tell me more," Scarlett smiled.
"He's where you got your mischievous side – Oh don't give me that look! I know about all your detentions!" Claire laughed.
"I can't help it! Mrs. Norris is always there!" Scarlett stated.
"Oh I don't care about the detentions. If your father found out, he'd praise you. He was the most mischievous person you'd ever meet. Him and his three best friends," Claire stated.
Scarlett grinned.
"He was known for pranking. But he could be the sweetest person ever. Everyone thought he was broken when you were born. It was the first time anyone had seen him cry like that," Claire smiled.

Scarlett and Claire were both in tears as they talked.

"Could you say anything personal about him. His age? If you can't do name, initials?" Scarlett asked.
"He's eight months older than me. Actually, he'll be thirty four in November. Um. His initials. I suppose I could say that. His initials are S.O.B. That's why your name starts with an 'S'. Your middle name starts with a 'C' because of my name," Claire explained.
"Why isn't he here?" Scarlett asked.

Claire pursed her lips.

How would she explain this?

"He never wanted to leave. I believe that if he could, he would be here with us," Claire stated.
"Then why can't you tell me his name? Why isn't he here?" Scarlett inquired.
"He-He's misunderstood. I've been given strict orders not to tell anyone. Believe me Scarlett. I want to tell you," Claire sighed.

Scarlett nodded slightly.

Claire debated something for awhile, before pulling her sleeve up slightly.

Unhooking the bracelet that was around her wrist. She hooked it around Scarlett's.

"Your father gave me this for Christmas during our seventh year at Hogwarts," Claire said.

Scarlett stared in awe at the silver bracelet. The silver heart held together by the sliver chain.

"Mum. It's yours," Scarlett stated.
"I want you to have it. So you can have something you know your father had," Claire said.
"T-Thank you."
"No. Thank you. I needed someone to talk about him with."
"Do you still love him?"
"With all of my heart."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~